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Exodus 2:17
ESV The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.
NIV Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock.
NASB Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.
CSB Then some shepherds arrived and drove them away, but Moses came to their rescue and watered their flock.
NLT But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.
KJV And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
NKJV Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

What does Exodus 2:17 mean?

The context indicates a group of male shepherds coming to a well while Reuel's daughters were there tending to their family's livestock. These shepherds "drove them away," meaning they made the women leave. This was most likely so the men would not have to wait to obtain water for themselves and their own flock. Moses acts to correct an injustice once again, this time standing up for these seven women and watering their sheep.

The contrast stands out greatly from the previous action of Moses. In the previous account, Moses killed an Egyptian who mistreated one of Moses' own people (Exodus 2:11–14). In this account, he helps those in need without committing a crime, and without them being related to him. Instead of fleeing afterwards, Moses is invited into the family and rewarded for his actions. His previous intervention led to forty years of exile from his home and people (Acts 7:23, 30; Exodus 7:7). This act would lead to provision during that same exile and a positive new life. His previous crime took a life. This current action leads to the life of someone new: Moses' firstborn son Gershom (Exodus 2:22).
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